Welcome to Boomerang.com, the dating site for the millennial gen with its no-fuss, no-commitments matchups, and where work is steamier than any random hook-up

Mia Galliano is an aspiring filmmaker. Ethan Vance has just played his last game as a collegiate soccer star. They’re sharp, hungry for success, and they share a secret.

Last night, Ethan and Mia met at a bar, and, well . . . one thing led to another, which led to them waking up the next morning—together. Things turned awkward in a hurry when they found themselves sharing a post hookup taxi . . . to the same place: Boomerang headquarters.

What began as a powerful connection between them is treated to a cold shower courtesy of two major complications. First, Boomerang has a strict policy against co-worker dating. And second, they’re now competitors for only one job at the end of summer.

As their internships come to an end, will they manage to keep their eyes on the future and their hands off each other, or will the pull of attraction put them right back where they started?

Boomerang came exceedingly highly recommended courtesy of Ellis (The Random Transliterator/Finding Bliss in Books). The fact that Veronica Rossi was part of the writing team that is Noelle August (the other half being Lorin Oberweger) already had Boomerang in my sights, but Ellis’ praise brought me back to it with renewed interest. Much as I want to love the books, if not the label, I’ve struggled with new adult. They’re so forumlaic and not in a good way. Boomerang by Noelle August seems like a step in the direction I would personally like to see new adult books going.

Boomerang is, I think, new adult enough according to the traditional formula to please your general new adult reader. If you’re here for sexy times, incredibly hot characters, and spontaneous boners, then you’re going to leave happy. Boomerang has this in spades. While the sexy stuff definitely isn’t as central in Boomerang as perhaps is the case with most others, it’s present enough to scratch that itch.

What Boomerang doesn’t have is tortured pasts and unhappy families. Both characters are loved and supported by their parents. Not only that but the parents actually have personalities. It’s downright amazing. As dark as Boomerang gets is financial problems for Ethan and the declining health of Mia’s grandmother. New adult has burned me on issues, particularly since a history of abuse is so often cured by a few good orgasms, which no. There is none of that here and I’m so glad for that.

In place of that, Boomerang focuses primarily on Ethan and Mia figuring out what they want to do with their lives. The biggest part of transitioning from young adulthood to adulthood is figuring out how the heck you’re going to support yourself and be independent. It’s slowly taking over financial independence from your parents’, at least if you’re lucky enough to have had them continue to pay for things (or pay for things ever). It’s getting degrees or internships or first jobs. It’s trying a career and deciding that’s not what you actually want to do with your life. Boomerang deals with this heavily, as Ethan and Mia compete for an actual job at the end of their marketing internships at Boomerang.

The other thing I really liked about Boomerang was the humor. A couple of chapters had me actually laughing out loud. Seriously, the first dates via the Boomerang site killed me. Then there are great lines like this:

Am I in love with him?

I don’t know. I only know I want to see him, just to sit with him, breath the same air. Okay, maybe attack him like an expensive buffet.

Both Ethan and Mia are really funny, though Mia especially. They’re silly and they reference pop culture. They actually banter. They do get eye-rollingly serious sometimes, but they spend more time amusing me.

Ethan and Mia’s romance, in tied and tested romance tradition evolve more quickly into something serious than I find particularly believable. I also found the actual kissy, romantic scenes to be pretty out of the box. They felt very much like all the others I’d read before. Boomerang‘s a great addition to new adult, but I think it’s strengths lie in what makes it stand out from the crowd. Though I’m not opposed to them, I never really ended up having strong feelings about Ethan and Mia’s relationship. I am, however, very much approving of the secondary character hookups.

Boomerang is a fun read for those who have been wishing new adult novels would sacrifice some sex scenes in exchange for some actual new adultiness.

Favorite Quote (because it made me snortlaugh):

Robby leans back and does this weird chest-massaging thing he’s done about sixteen times in the last half hour. Like, look at my shiny shirt, girl. Let it hypnoooootize you.

4 responses to “Review: Boomerang by Noelle August”

YESSSSSS a new adult novel that is actually new adulty and not about them having dark, tortured pasts THANK YOU. I was on the fence about reading this one because I have not bought into what NA is quickly becoming. I have absolutely zero problem with sexytimes in my books, but they can’t carry the story. That just doesn’t work for me. Nor do I like the whole, as you put it, “a history of abuse is so often cured by a few good orgasms” thing, because yeah, NO. So to hear that the families are great and jobs are a thing and the couple is bantery and funny is so encouraging.Jessica R recently posted…DNF Review: Extraction by Stephanie Diaz

Nice: “a fun read for those who have been wishing new adult novels would sacrifice some sex scenes in exchange for some actual new adultness” – because that IS what I would like to see in New Adult. Adding BOOMERANG to the to read pile!Becky LeJeune recently posted…A Triple Knot by Emma Campion

The thing about NA books is that they always seemed to be about those ‘troubles boys’ and unhealthy relationships. It’s the reason I haven’t tried a NA book before, but this is one I’m definitely interested in. I like that they both come from normal families and how it focus on their development in life.Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…Review 273. Mary E. Pearson – The kiss of deception.